Bright Star (musical)

Productions

Bright Star was workshoped by the New York Stage and Film at the Powerhouse Theater at Vassar College in July 2013. It had its world premiere at the Old Globe Theatre (San Diego) on September 28, 2014 and ran to November 2, 2014.

The musical opened at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on December 2, 2015.

The show began previews at the Cort Theatre on Broadway on February 25, 2016 before officially opening on March 24. Directed by Walter Bobbie, the cast features Carmen Cusack as Alice Murphy, Paul Alexander Nolan as Jimmy Ray Dobbs, A.J. Shively as Billy Cane, Hannah Elless as Margo Crawford, Michael Mulheren as Mayor Dobbs, Stephen Bogardus as Billy's father, Dee Hoty as Alice's mother, and Stephen Lee Anderson as Alice's father. Sound design is by Nevin Steinberg, choreography by Josh Rhodes, scenic design by Eugene Lee, costume design by Jane Greenwood and lighting design by Japhy Weideman.

Despite support by Martin and Brickell, and occasional appearances by Martin, the musical closed on June 26, 2016 after 30 previews and 109 regular performances.

A reunion concert was held on December 12, 2016 at Town Hall, New York City. Members of the original Broadway cast participated, with Steve Martin and Edie Brickel both hosting and performing.

Act I

In 1946, editor Alice Murphy greets the audience and tells them that, instead of overseeing other people's stories, she is going to tell her own ("If You Knew My Story"). One year earlier, in the town of Hayes Creek, serviceman and aspiring writer Billy Cane returns home after serving in World War II. He reunites with his father and his childhood friend Margo before learning that his mother has died ("She's Gone"). Several weeks later, Billy visits Margo and tells her he is going to submit his stories to The Asheville Southern Journal ("Bright Star").

Upon arriving at the offices of the Journal, he finds himself rebuffed by employees Darryl and Lucy. However, Alice finds herself charmed by a brazen lie that Billy tells and considers accepting his stories. She later declines Lucy's invitation to a dance, but privately reflects on a time when she would have gone to a dance ("Way Back in the Day").

Flashing back to 1923, a sixteen-year-old Alice flirts with Jimmy Ray Dobbs in her hometown of Zebulon, North Carolina ("Whoa, Mama") When Alice returns home later that night, her parents reprimand her while pondering her unfortunate future. ("Firmer Hand/Do Right") Meanwhile, Jimmy Ray returns home only to be lectured by his father, Mayor Josiah Hobbs, on what the future holds for him ("A Man's Gotta Do").

In 1945, upon receiving encouragement from Alice in the form of a ten dollar check, Billy decides to settle down in Asheville and dedicate his time to writing. Margo reflects that she had other hopes for her future with Billy, but she decides to put her hopes aside and be supportive of his dreams. ("Asheville")

In 1923, Alice and Jimmy Ray make their way to the riverbank and make love ("What Could Be Better"). Sometime later, Alice goes to see the town physician after feeling ill only to learn she is pregnant. Josiah arranges for Alice to stay in a remote cabin for the duration of her pregnancy. She divides her time in isolation by knitting a sweater for the baby and talking about their child with Jimmy Ray when he visits ("I Can't Wait").

Shortly after giving birth to a baby son, Alice and her parents learn that Josiah has secretly put the child up for adoption. Alice tries to make him change his mind, but loses the argument ("Please, Don't Take Him"). Josiah departs with the baby in a valise and boards the train to Hayes Creek before throwing the valise into the river when no one is looking ("A Man's Gotta Do [Reprise]").

Act II

In 1924, Alice prepares to attend college in Chapel Hill and privately yearns to find her son. Meanwhile, in 1945, Margo talks with her friends about how she misses Billy ("Sun Is Gonna Shine"). Back in 1924, Jimmy Ray tells an ailing Josiah that he is going to meet Alice in Chapel Hill. When Josiah confesses what happened to the baby, Jimmy Ray decides to stay with his father after realizing he can't possibly tell Alice the truth ("Heartbreaker").

In 1946, Darryl and Lucy encounter a creatively frustrated Billy while sharing an after-work drink and try to cheer him up ("Another Round"). The next day, Alice tells Billy that one of his stories is set to be published in the Journal. He confesses that he has been writing about Hayes Creek before inviting her to see where his stories take place. She agrees before departing for Raleigh to complete some unfinished business.

In Raleigh, Alice requests permission to look through adoption papers drafted during the period when her son would have been registered. After failing to find what she is looking for, Alice encounters Jimmy Ray and learns about Josiah's actions ("I Had a Vision"). Back in Hayes Creek, Billy tells Margo that he's moving back home before realizing that she's the girl for him ("Always Will").

In Zebulon, Alice reconciles with her father after he apologizes for allowing Josiah to take the baby away from her. Not wanting to continue his distress any longer, she tells him the child was adopted by a good family and is living a successful life. She makes her way to Hayes Creek and sees Billy's childhood home where she discovers the baby sweater she sent with her son, discovering that she is Billy's birth mother ("So Familiar/At Long Last"). A few weeks later, everyone involved assembles in Asheville and gets a happy ending ("Finale").

Songs

All songs contain music by Martin and Brickell with lyrics by Brickell except "Way Back in the Day" and "At Long Last" by Edie Brickell and "Bright Star" with ensemble lyrics by Martin. "Way Back in the Day", "I Can't Wait", "Heartbreaker", "Another Round", "I Had a Vision", "Always Will" and "So Familiar" all were included on the album "So Familiar". "Asheville" and "Sun's Gonna Shine" both originated from the album "Love Has Come for You".

San Diego

Charles Isherwood of The New York Times wrote that, "The shining achievement of the musical is its winsome country and bluegrass score, with music by Mr. Martin and Ms. Brickell, and lyrics by Ms. Brickell. The complicated plot, divided between two love stories that turn out to have an unusual connection, threatens to get a little too diffuse and unravel like a ball of yarn rolling off a knitter’s lap. But the songs — yearning ballads and square-dance romps rich with fiddle, piano and banjo, beautifully played by a nine-person band — provide a buoyancy that keeps the momentum from stalling." Bob Verini of Variety praised the music, but felt that, "characterizations are distinctly undercooked. Guileless Billy seems untouched by wartime service, too callow to craft greeting cards let alone the 'sweeping tale of pain and redemption' Alice unaccountably expects of him", and the show could benefit with higher stakes in its drama.

Broadway

The Broadway production received fairly positive reviews. Elysa Gardner, in her review in USA Today, wrote: "...Martin, a master ironist, captures some of that old-school spirit with a book that's as forthright as it is smart, funny and charming....Martin and Brickell refuse to condescend to their own characters, from the small-townspeople Billy grows up with to the wry, knowing employees at Alice's highly regarded journal in the city of Asheville....The tone in which that story is delivered can also wobble a bit, especially later on, when what seems destined to be a majestic, Hammerstein-esque resolution is mitigated by zany musical-comedy flourishes. Still, in what may well prove to be the richest Broadway season for new musicals in decades, this gently shining Star holds its own."

Recording

The original Broadway cast album, produced by Ghostlight Records, was recorded in March 2016 and released in May 2016 in stores. It was released in digital format on April 29, 2016. In its review of the recording, NPR said that the " interlocking narrative can't help but lose some of its detail", but that " 'Bright Star' 's best moments shine, well, brightly....the net result is a set of songs in which lavish stage settings and broad flourishes can't obscure the simple warmth and lovely instrumentation at their core." The recording received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. (The 59th Annual award ceremony will be held on February 12, 2017.)

Awards and nominations

The original Broadway cast album was nominated for the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.